How accurate are Sarasota Association of Realtors sales statistics?

5 years ago1,151 Views

Today the Sarasota Association of Realtors (SAR) released
statistics for June 2010 sales.

SAR reported; "Property sales in June 2010 in the Sarasota
market once again topped the 700 mark, with 776 total sales - once
again the highest of the year and the highest total since December
2005 when 784 properties were sold. The figure of 776 sales topped
the May 2010 total of 766, the previous high, and was 27.2 percent
higher than June 2009, when only 610 homes and condos sold."

Since I knew these numbers to be significantly different from
the MLS data I report every month I decide to place a call to SAR
and ask them exactly how they defined "Sarasota market". Was this
all sales in Sarasota County, in the city of Sarasota, or
everything with a "Sarasota" mailing address? Is a "sale" a closing
or contract written?

I was told SAR does not report on sales in any certain
geographic area. SAR reports sales made by members of SAR,
regardless of the property's location. While I am sure that SAR
data is accurate, I have compared non-foreclosure sales to
foreclosure sales, for all of Sarasota County, Manatee &
Charlotte county sales - both contracts and actual closings).